North American and UK artists support Israelis who refuse to perform in settlements.

Israeli Artists Condemn Settlements

When some 60 leading Israeli actors and playwrights signed a letter stating they would refuse to play in the new theatre in Ariel, one of Israel's largest settlements, the attacks from Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport and many others were swift and intense. Over 150 leading Israeli academics and writers- including Amos Oz and David Grossman- came to their defense. It was the first time such mainstream figures had drawn a line around normalizing settlements which are illegal according to international law, and which constitute one of the main impediments to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Inspired by their courage, and responding to a call for international support, Jewish Voice for Peace has developed a statement that has been signed by over 150 theater and film professionals representing some of the most respected and renowned artists in theater, film and television – including Four Pulitzer Prize winners, several recipients of Guggenheim Fellowships, a MacArthur Fellowship, a National Medal of Honor,and scores of recipients of the highest U.S. acting honors, including Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Obie Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and the Oscar.

Rebecca Vilkomerson, Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace: "The response of American and UK artists to the courageous actions of their Israeli counterparts is just phenomenal. It is especially notable that so many of the signatories are Jewish with long-standing connections to Israel. We hope that the strong show of solidarity by Americans and UK actors in response to these brave Israelis will help spark a new conversation in both countries, one that acknowledges that the Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are illegal by every measure of international law, contribute to the daily violation of human rights of Palestinians, and are a major obstacle to a just peace in the region."

JVP supportsdivestment from and boycotts of companies that proﬁt from Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. This includes companies operating in or from occupied Palestinian territory, exploiting Palestinian labor and scarce environmental resources, providing materials or labor for settlements, or producing military or other equipment or materials used to violate human rights or to proﬁt from the Occupation. Download our full statement on the Palestinian-led BDS movement.

On August 27th, dozens of Israeli actors, directors, and playwrights made the brave decision not to perform in Ariel, one of the largest of the West Bank settlements, which by all standards of international law are clearly illegal. As American actors, directors, critics and playwrights, we salute our Israeli counterparts for their courageous decision.

Most of us are involved in daily compromises with wrongful acts. When a group of people suddenly have the clarity of mind to see that the next compromise looming up before them is an unbearable one -- and when they somehow find the strength to refuse to cross that line -- we can't help but be overjoyed and inspired and grateful.

It's thrilling to think that these Israeli theatre artists have refused to allow their work to be used to normalize a cruel occupation which they know to be wrong, which violates international law and which is impeding the hope for a just and lasting peace for Israelis an Palestinians alike. They've made a wonderful decision, and they deserve the respect of people everywhere who dream of justice. We stand with them.

*Statement organizers and signatories represent a wide range of political opinions and perspectives, but have come together for the sole purpose of making a joint statement on this one critical issue. **All identifications and affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsements by any institutions

Theodore Bikel Actor, Singer, MusicianCo-founder of the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv; President of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America; Academy Award nominee; Tony Award nominee; Actor in Theatre, Film and Television

Frank GehryArchitect National Medal of the Arts, Pritzker Prize Winner, Designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, Experience Music Project in Seattle.Mary Rodgers GuettelComposer, AuthorOnce Upon A Mattress; Freaky Friday; Free to Be You and Me; The Hot Spot; From A to Z; The Mad Show; Working; The Madwoman of Central Park West; Director of the Rodgers & Hammerstein OrganizationSheldon HarnickLyricistPulitzer Prize winner; Tony Award winner; Fiorello!; Fiddler on the Roof

Ethan HawkeActor, Writer, Film Director

Bill IrwinActor, Mime, ChoreographerWinner two Tony Awards; Winner of the National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer's Fellowship; Guggenheim, Fulbright and MacArthur Fellowships

Harold PrinceDirector, ProducerPajama Game, Cabaret, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Sweeney Todd, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Zorba; Follies (a short list of an impossibly long list); multiple Tony Award Winner National Medal of the Arts recipient

Jeffrey HorowitzDirectorFounder and Artistic Director, Theater for a New AudienceAdvisory Board of The Shakespeare Society and Artistic Directorate of London’s Globe Theatre, Artistic Advisor to the Shakespeare Globe Centre (USA)